National Commission on the status of Women (NCSW) strives to fulfill the promise of a life of dignity and justice to women of Pakistan. Commission’s mandate is to address the issues that affect the lives of women adversely by reviewing and analyzing the laws and policies and consequently formulating recommendations through dialogue and research to enable them to hold a position of equity. The discrimination expressed in social issues is to be eliminated for a life of fulfillment.

Our religion and constitution safeguards women’s rights. It is the implementation and practice that ignores the justice what is due. NCSW’s basic concern is to create awareness at all levels and in all section of society. The contemporary issues of life demand a sensible understanding. This could be achieved by accepting rather than negating the realities. The Commission endeavors to resolve this conflict of myth and reality. Women rights are not something specific or alien, they are human rights as enshrined in our value system and they are not subjugated as individuals having a right to dignity.  

NCSW advocates that the potential of half of the population cannot be left unattended. In order to bring women of Pakistan in the mainstream development it becomes mandatory to revisit policies and laws. The government of Pakistan has established this Commission to realize this end, in order to strengthen the national cause. All efforts of NCSW are consciously directed to achieve this goal and to minimize the roadblocks to justice and equity that refuse the women their natural rights.

Message of Out going Chairperson Dr. Arfa Sayeda Zehra

Today as I relinquish charge as Chairperson, National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) upon completion of my three years tenure. I must admit that initially I was reluctant to accept this honour. Earlier as a member, I was a witness to its pathetic neglect. My conscience led me to overcome my reluctance in order to pay back the debt of gratitude of being a woman.

NCSW was created as a statutory body under national and international pressures and obligations. Institutions need sustained support to develop into productive organizations. When lack of political will, coupled with administrative inertia, fails to provide the organizational support, institutions degenerate into a cosmetic exercise. Such is the case of this Commission.

By appointing members on voluntary basis and employing one member as Chairperson in management scale does not build the functional and operational capacity of the Commission. Neither does it elevate its status as an institution. Without a proper secretariat and only a skeleton staff provided by the Ministry of Women Development(MoWD), the Commission still manages, somehow, to be productive in realizing its mandate in some visible degree.

The mandate of the Commission is a very impressive expression of noble intents, and has the scope to turn this Commission into an effective agent of change. If the Commission is envisaged as the gender conscience of the government then it becomes imperative to integrate its due relevance in all development work. MoWD has been hesitant to conceive the Commission as supplementing its own work for the empowerment of women. Unfortunately the prevalent perception about NCSW is more of a sub section of the Ministry or one of its projects at best. Denying autonomy to the Commission dilutes its role and performance in achieving its mandate. So it remains a cosmetic response to substantive socio-economic issues. The state is thus inhibited in fulfilling its obligations to the citizens.

Our governance culture and psyche of  bias and capricious attitude in  official dealings, leave the Commission in the lurch. As persons take preference over institutions, the routine matters are left to be begged as personal favours. This attitude generates subjectivity and value judgment. Hence it loses touch with reality.

I am proud to report that undeterred by persistent handicaps and its meager resources - financial as well human - the Commission has produced in the last three years, six (6) Research Reports, three (3) Annual Reports, two (2) Documentaries, thirteen (13) Radio Shows and  organized more than fifty (50) public forums on vital socio-legal issues to communicate at all levels of audiences. An international  conference and foreign visits to other such commissions were also among these activities. This only indicates that the will is stronger than circumstances.

I leave with the hope and prayer that a raised consciousness in the government of the vitality of the Commission will enable our successors to ensure empowerment of women and recognition of their role in national development will be woven in all legal and administrative initiatives of the government. Society could then optimally realize the potential of its better half.

Environmental constraints notwithstanding I owe a debt of gratitude to several individuals and all my colleagues, not the least fellow members of the Commission, whose help allowed us to overcome unending barriers of poor governmental support.

Dr. Arfa Sayeda  Zehra
Chairperson
Jan 1, 2009.